Me"te*or (?), n. [F. météore, Gr. &?;, pl. &?;
things in the air, fr. &?; high in air, raised off the ground; &?; beyond + &?;, &?;, a suspension or hovering in the air, fr.
&?; to lift, raise up.]
1. Any phenomenon or appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds, rain, hail, snow, etc.
Hail, an ordinary meteor.
Bp. Hall. 2. Specif.: A transient luminous body or appearance seen in the atmosphere, or in a more elevated region.
The vaulty top of heaven
Figured quite o'er with burning
meteors.
Shak. &fist; The term is especially applied to
fireballs, and the masses of stone or other substances which sometimes fall to the earth;
also to shooting stars and to ignes fatui. Meteors are often classed as: aerial
meteors, winds, tornadoes, etc.; aqueous
meteors, rain, hail, snow, dew, etc.; luminous meteors, rainbows, halos, etc.; and igneous meteors, lightning, shooting
stars, and the like.
Hear it pronounced